Jobs

Thank you for your interest in Libraries Unlimited, an independent staff and community owned organisation.

About Libraries Unlimited

Libraries Unlimited is an independent charity running the library service in Devon and Torbay, and a range of other services including; one FabLab, and 3 Business and Intellectual Property Centres. We have approximately 380 members of staff working across our multiple locations. We are also an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), expanding our services to include high-quality arts and cultural events and activities for our users. We have an ambitious vision to grow and develop our organisation, our people and our services. We firmly believe that great libraries have a huge, positive impact on the lives of individuals and communities and we are committed to developing our new organisation to have an even bigger impact in local communities in the future. Our staff are critical to ensuring that our libraries continue to have maximum impact, and you could be part of this.

We currently have the following vacancies:

Positions        Relief           Trustees        Volunteers

Positions

Climate Action Development Manager (Job ref: CLI001)
Salary: £30,411.44 (£37,507.44 FTE)
Hours: 30hrs per week
Working Pattern: TBC with successful candidate. Core hours 09:00 – 17:00
Location: Hybrid working – Homeworking and Exeter Library
Closing date: 9am, Monday 12^th May 2025
Interview date: 4^th June 2025

Do you have the passion and vision to lead community-driven climate action that improves lives and transforms local environments? Libraries Unlimited is seeking a motivated and dynamic Climate Action Development Manager to lead the delivery of our Together for Tomorrow initiative – an ambitious five-year project funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.

Together for Tomorrow aims to empower communities across Devon to take meaningful, sustainable action to address climate change while improving wellbeing and social cohesion. From repair cafes and community fridges to sustainable gardening and outreach to under-represented groups, this project puts people and place at the heart of climate resilience.

As our Climate Action Development Manager, you will:

• Lead the delivery of this transformative project, ensuring its vision, objectives, and community values are at the forefront.
• Coordinate a dynamic network of partners including local climate groups, councils, and national organisations, embedding collaboration across all activities.
• Manage and support a delivery team including area outreach officers and community enablers, ensuring strong, inclusive engagement in every community.
• Champion inclusive climate action, reaching those most affected by climate change including low-income households, rural communities, and young people.
• Track and evaluate impact, working closely with Resource Futures and other partners to monitor social, environmental, and economic outcomes.
• Promote learning and legacy, sharing insights, outcomes, and scalable models through networks, libraries, and community events.

This is a permanent position, supported by National Lottery funding for an initial 5 year period. We are committed to the long-term vision for this post, recognising that libraries play an important role in empowering communities to take steps in climate action, and are committed to exploring further funding to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project.

We’re looking for a collaborative leader with:

• A strong track record of programme management, ideally in the community development, climate action, or public engagement sectors.
• Proven ability to build partnerships, inspire collaboration, and lead teams in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• An inclusive, grassroots-focused approach to community development and behaviour change.
• Excellent skills in evaluation, reporting, and adapting to emerging needs and challenges.

About Libraries Unlimited:
We’re an independent charity delivering 54 libraries across Devon and Torbay. Our mission is to enrich lives and build communities. Through Together for Tomorrow, our libraries will develop our current offers to support sustainability and climate resilience – accessible, trusted spaces where real change begins.
This is an exciting opportunity to deliver a high-profile project with national significance. Join us in creating a more connected, resilient, and sustainable Devon

For an informal conversation about the role please contact:
14^th – 24^th April & 3^rd – 11^th May: Kate Turner (Head of Library Service & Customer Experience) on Kate.Turner@librariesunlimited.org.uk or on 07939 988925
24^th April – 2^nd May: Rachel Payne (Business Development and Fundraising Manager) on rachel.payne@librariesunlimited.org.uk or on 07939 955563

How to Apply
When you are ready to apply, please:

1. Download and complete the below Cover Form, and email alongside a CV to jobs@librariesunlimited.org.uk by the closing date;
2. Complete the Equality & Diversity Monitoring form available here.

Recruitment Pack
Job description
Cover Form

Customer Service Assistant (Job ref: TQY003)
Fixed Term Contract until 31^st March 2026
Salary: £8,615.93 (£23,614.02 FTE)
Hours: 13.5 hours per week (working pattern below)
Location: Torquay Library
Closing date: 9am, Monday 19^th May 2025
Interview date: Friday 30^th May 2025, at Torquay Library

Do you enjoy helping others?
Torquay Library is seeking an enthusiastic people-focused person to join our team. The successful candidate will deliver a friendly, proactive, and responsive service, ensuring the best possible customer experience for all.

This is a frontline role and will involve working to develop and deliver excellent services and activities and customer care on a day-to-day basis. Organising and delivering events is a vital part of the role and will include children’s activities such as Bounce and Rhyme as well as adult events.

The role includes putting together social media posts as well as creating posters and promoting our services to the community.

In a typical shift, you could find yourself:

• Delivering a friendly, personable service to customers whilst helping them with their diverse reading and information queries.
• Using your excellent IT skills to help customers access our digital library services and connect to the wider world through our customer PCs or their own devices.
• Delivering events and activities that inspire a love of reading, learning and creativity with customers of all ages.
• Unleashing your creativity and develop your event planning and marketing skills by helping colleagues to plan and promote events and activities built with the local community in mind.

You don’t need qualifications or previous library experience to join us – we’ll give you all the relevant training you’ll need. It’s your passion for helping others, strong IT skills, and your excellent organisation skills that are more important to us.

This is an opportunity to develop your skills and experience in a customer-facing role. If you love being creative, planning events and activities, and working in a fast-paced customer focused role, this could be the perfect role for you!

Working Pattern

Total Weekly Average: 13.5 hours

For an informal conversation about the role please contact Sarah Kennedy (Library Supervisor) on sarah.kennedy@librariesunlimited.org.uk or 01803 714452.

When you’re ready to apply, please:

1. Download and complete the below application form. Return your completed application form to jobs@librariesunlimited.org.uk by the closing date; and
2. Complete the Equality & Diversity Monitoring form available here.

Guidance for Applicants
Recruitment Pack
Job Description
Application Form (Customer Service Assistant)

Team Leader (Job ref: CHU008)
Salary: £20,682.29 (£25,508.16 FTE)
Hours: 30 hours per week (working pattern below)
Location: Churston Library
Closing date: 9am, Wednesday 21^st May 2025
Interview date: Wednesday 28^th May 2025, at Torquay Library

We are looking for a dynamic, positive, organised and inspiring individual to join Churston Library as our Team Leader. Within this role, you will be supporting, motivating and inspiring the team in delivering an innovative, customer focused, high-quality service. You will be taking on the line management of members of staff, nurturing them to succeed within their roles. This is a frontline role, with occasional lone working responsibilities, and you will be leading and supporting the team of Customer Service Assistants to develop and deliver excellent services and customer care on a day-to-day basis.

Working Pattern

Total Weekly Average: 30 hours

For an informal conversation about the role please contact Sarah Kennedy (Library Supervisor) on sarah.kennedy@librariesunlimited.org.uk or 01803 714452.

When you’re ready to apply, please:

1. Download and complete the below application form. Return your completed application form to jobs@librariesunlimited.org.uk by the closing date; and
2. Complete the Equality & Diversity Monitoring form available here.

Recruitment Pack
Job description
Application Form

Relief Positions

There are currently no Relief positions available.

Trustees

Community Trustee

Tenure: Three-year fixed term (option for a maximum of two further terms)
Salary: N/A – Voluntary Role
Time Commitment: Approximately 15 days per annum
Location: Devon & Torbay
Closing date: 9am, Tuesday 6^th May 2025
Interview date: Thursday 15^th May & Friday 16^th May 2025, via Microsoft Teams

This role is open to all existing members of one of Libraries Unlimited’s Friends’ Groups, or as a registered volunteer for Libraries Unlimited.

Could you be our next Community trustee?
Libraries Unlimited is an independent charity established in 2016, running the libraries across Devon and Torbay as well a range of other services including a FabLab and Business and Intellectual Property Centres. We are also an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), expanding our services to include high-quality arts and cultural events and activities for our users.

We are looking for a community trustee to join our diverse Board. This role is open to all existing members of one of Libraries Unlimited’s Friends’ Groups, or as a registered volunteer for Libraries Unlimited.

We have ambitious plans to grow and develop our organisation, our people and our service, and we are seeking to appoint a person passionate about our vision for enriching lives and building communities to enhance our Board’s existing skills and support our future growth and sustainability.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and particularly welcome applications from those who identify as female, who consider themselves to have a disability and/or people of the global majority, and those who may not have considered becoming a charity trustee before. We are particularly seeking individuals with a financial, or arts or culture background, however we welcome people from all sectors to apply as the key things we are looking for are passion and commitment.

Our trustees provide Libraries Unlimited with effective challenge and scrutiny and are collectively responsible for setting and reviewing our strategic direction. We are looking for a Community trustee who will share our collective passion for libraries and enjoy the challenge of working in a creative, business environment.

Please note, this role will require a basic DBS disclosure.

For an informal conversation about the role please contact Claire Annetts (Executive Officer) on claire.annetts@librariesunlimited.org.uk or for an informal chat with one of our current trustees, please email elections@librariesunlimited.org.uk.

How to Apply
When you’re ready to apply, please download and complete the Equality Monitoring Form, Personal Details form and About Me form (linked below), and email all three to elections@librariesunlimited.org.uk.

Further information on the application and recruitment process can be found in the Recruitment Pack below.

Equality Monitoring Form
Personal Details Form
About Me Form
Recruitment Pack

Independent Trustee

Tenure: Three-year fixed term (option for a maximum of two further terms)
Salary: N/A – Voluntary Role
Time Commitment: Approximately 15 days per annum
Location: Devon & Torbay
Closing date: 9am, Tuesday 6^th May 2025
Interview date: Thursday 15^th May & Friday 16^th May 2025, via Microsoft Teams

Could you be our next Independent trustee?
Libraries Unlimited is an independent charity established in 2016, running the libraries across Devon and Torbay as well a range of other services including a FabLab and Business and Intellectual Property Centres. We are also an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), expanding our services to include high-quality arts and cultural events and activities for our users.

We are looking for an independent trustee to join our diverse Board. We have ambitious plans to grow and develop our organisation, our people and our service, and we are seeking to appoint a person passionate about our vision for enriching lives and building communities to enhance our Board’s existing skills and support our future growth and sustainability. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and particularly welcome applications from those who identify as female, who consider themselves to have a disability and/or people of the global majority, and those who may not have considered becoming a charity trustee before. We are particularly seeking individuals with a financial, or arts or culture background, however we welcome people from all sectors to apply as the key things we are looking for are passion and commitment.

Our trustees provide Libraries Unlimited with effective challenge and scrutiny and are collectively responsible for setting and reviewing our strategic direction. We are looking for an Independent trustee who will share our collective passion for libraries and enjoy the challenge of working in a creative, business environment.

Please note, this role will require a basic DBS disclosure.

For an informal conversation about the role please contact Claire Annetts (Executive Officer) on claire.annetts@librariesunlimited.org.uk or for an informal chat with one of our current trustees, please email elections@librariesunlimited.org.uk.

How to Apply
When you’re ready to apply, please download and complete the Equality Monitoring Form, Personal Details form and About Me form (linked below), and email all three to elections@librariesunlimited.org.uk.

Further information on the application and recruitment process can be found in the Recruitment Pack below.

Equality Monitoring Form
Personal Details Form
About Me Form
Recruitment Pack

Volunteers

Every library in Devon is run by paid library staff, but there are lots of volunteering opportunities for people who wish to get involved and support their local library and community.

Volunteer for Libraries Unlimited